Education :
Research & Reports

Millions of American children reach fourth grade without learning to read proficiently. The shortfall is especially pronounced among low- income children: Of the fourth-graders who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test in 2009, 83% of children from low-income families—and 85% of low-income students who attend high-poverty schools—failed to reach the “proficient” level in reading. Reading proficiently by the end of third grade is a crucial marker in a child’s educational development. Failure to read proficiently is linked to higher rates of school dropout, which suppresses individual earning potential as well as the nation’s competitive- ness and general productivity.

Michigan now ranks in the bottom five states for student learning progress over the last decade in some subjects, according to The Education Trust-Midwest’s new 2014 State of Michigan Education report. Michigan is one of only six states in the nation that posted negative student growth in fourth-grade reading, according to new national assessment data.

Generation STEM is national research report investigating girls' perceptions, attitudes, and interests in the subjects and general field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) from the voices of girls themselves. The report consists of a literature review, as well as qualitative (focus group) and quantitative (survey) research with 1,000 girls across the country. The study finds that girls are interested in STEM and aspire to STEM careers, but need further exposure and education about what STEM careers can offer, and how STEM can help girls make a difference in the world.

Business and government leaders continue to raise concerns about the future supply of highly skilled employees that can meet the nation's economic and national security needs. Although there are pockets of leadership across the nation in policies and practices that support our high ability and high-achieving students, the 2012-2013 State of the States in Gifted Education survey shows that the United States as a whole has not yet committed attention and resources to ensure that high-ability students will receive an education that maximizes their talent and supports them in attaining advanced levels of achievement in school and beyond. The survey, conducted in conjunction with the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted, examines policy and practice affecting the education of gifted and talented students. The report is the only national compilation of data about gifted and talented education. Forty-two states, the District of Columbia, and Guam responded to the survey.

Fifty years of research has revealed the sad truth that the children of lower-income, less-educated parents typically enter school with poorer language skills than their more privileged counterparts. By some measures, 5-year-old children of lower socioeconomic status score more than two years behind on standardized language development tests by the time they enter school.

The Report of 2012 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education details the results of a survey of 7,752 science and mathematics teachers in schools across the United States. Areas addressed include: teacher backgrounds and beliefs, teachers as professionals, science and mathematics courses, instructional objectives and activities, instructional resources, and factors affecting instruction.

"America’s K-12 public education system has experienced tremendous historical growth in employment, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Between fiscal year (FY) 1950 and FY 2009, the number of K-12 public school students in the United States increased by 96 percent while the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) school employees grew 386 percent. Public schools grew staffing at a rate four times faster than the increase in students over that time period. Of those personnel, teachers’ numbers increased 252 percent while administrators and other staff experienced growth of 702 percent, more than seven times the increase in students."

This report card ranks all Detroit public schools and public charter schools as well as some private schools. It also includes suburban schools where at least 30% of the students are from Detroit. New this year, the schools are organized by geography to help parents find a school close to where they live or work. Excellent Schools Detroit also used the state’s new, much higher standards for school quality.

The Michigan Education Dashboard ranks Michigan's school and student performance as either "progressing," "declining" or "staying about the same" for a number of relevant performance-gauging categories such as "student accountability," "culture of learning" and "value for money." The user-friendly charts compare prior percentages to current percentages for an easy-to-comprehend reference tool charting Michigan's education system performance overall.

Bright Ideas

Even when controlling for poverty, education level, and tobacco use of a mother, maternal and infant health outcomes are far worse for minority populations than European-American women. What's causing the continued disparities? And what can West Michigan do to ensure all babies born here have the best chance of reaching their potential? Zinta Aistars reports on Strong Beginnings, one local program working to give all families a fair start.

Parents working more than one job or odd hours, a lack of funds, and no transportation often prevent kids from experiencing one of Michigan’s incredible natural resources. For the majority of west side Grand Rapids elementary school kids, Lake Michigan is sadly out of reach. OST has teamed up with Grand Rapids Public Schools to give fourth-graders at west side schools the opportunity to experience the big lake firsthand.